Match Preview: Magic Round vs Wests Tigers

Author: Manly Media
Timestamp: Wed 13 May 2026, 04:06 PM

Manly Warringah Sea Eagles are off to Brisbane this weekend to face the Wests Tigers in Magic Round.

Round 11 - Round 11 - Saturday 16 May

5:00 am

Wests Tigers

Sea Eagles

Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

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Manly has played Brisbane Broncos in their own back yard in all five previous Magic Round encounters, making Saturday’s fixture a first for the Club.

The Sea Eagles record at Magic Round is not so flash with just the one win, but what a win it was! The 50-6 victory in 2021 remains the club’s biggest ever win against the Broncos.

Wests Tigers boast an impressive record at Magic Round, winning four of their six games.

The Sea Eagles are flying high after a string of good performances, the most recent of which being last Saturday’s demolition of the Broncos at 4 Pines Park.

It was the team’s fifth win in six matches, a sequence of success that has coincided with Kieran Foran’s appointment as interim head coach.

Lehi Hopoate is on a six-game try scoring streak

This will be the 40th meeting between the Sea Eagles and Wests Tigers, with results pretty evenly split since 2003.

In recent times, however, Manly has fared very well against the joint-venture club, winning seven of the past nine meetings.

The Tigers enjoyed a terrific start to the season winning four of their first five games but have come back to the field in recent weeks, losing three of their past four.

Of some concern for the Tigers is their faltering defence in recent weeks. They’ve conceded 96 points in the past two games with heavy defeats to the Storm and the Sharks.

Jamal Fogarty is back on deck for his first game since Round 8 victory over the Eels

In contrast is Manly’s rock-solid ‘D’ in recent weeks, the team conceding on average just 14 points per match under their new coach.

In team news a couple of changes for the Sea Eagles with Jamal Fogarty returning from a groin injury to replace Joey Walsh at halfback, Jake Simpkin replaces suspended hooker Brandon Wakeham in the run-on side, while Kobe Hetherington returns from a head knock to take Siua Taukeiaho’s place on the interchange.

Taylan May has scored five tries in his last four games including a double against the Storm

For the Tigers, Terrell May returns at prop after missing Round 10 while Latu Fainu has been handed the No. 9 jersey pushing Tristan Hope to the bench.

Round 11 - Round 11 - Saturday 16 May

5:00 am

Wests Tigers

Sea Eagles

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Heath Mason

Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Clayton Faulalo
Winger for Wests Tigers is number 2 Sunia Turuva

Winger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason Saab
Centre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Patrick Herbert

Centre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Tolutau Koula
Centre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Taylan May

Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Reuben Garrick
Winger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Luke Laulilii

Winger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Lehi Hopoate
Five-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Jarome Luai

Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Luke Brooks
Halfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Jock Madden

Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Jamal Fogarty

Forwards

Prop for Wests Tigers is number 8 Terrell May

Prop for Sea Eagles is number 8 Taniela Paseka
Hooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Latu Fainu

Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Jake Simpkin
Prop for Wests Tigers is number 10 Fonua Pole

Prop for Sea Eagles is number 10 Ethan Bullemor
2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Sione Fainu

2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Haumole Olakau'atu
2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Kai Pearce-Paul

2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Ben Trbojevic
Lock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Alex Twal

Lock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake Trbojevic

Interchange

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 14 Tristan Hope

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Zach Dockar-Clay
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Mavrik Geyer

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Nathan Brown
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Alex Seyfarth

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Kobe Hetherington
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Royce Hunt

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Jackson Shereb
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 18 Ethan Roberts

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 18 Blake Wilson
Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 19 Jeral Skelton

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 19 Joey Walsh

Reserves

Reserve for Wests Tigers is number 20 Charlie Murray

Reserve for Sea Eagles is number 20 Josh Feledy
Reserve for Wests Tigers is number 21 Bunty Afoa

Reserve for Sea Eagles is number 21 Simione Laiafi
Reserve for Wests Tigers is number 22 Javon Andrews

Reserve for Sea Eagles is number 22 Aaron Schoupp